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Janitors go on hunger strike in front of Century City JP Morgan Chase

Janitors eat their last meal on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010 before fasting for three days outside the Century City JP Morgan. Members of the Service Employee Union are calling on JP Morgan Chase to give janitors their jobs back.
Patricia Nazario/KPCC

She received her layoff notice about two weeks ago. The single mother says that unless she gets her job back, her teenage son will have to get a job instead of enrolling in college.

“She’s been really stressed out," said Sosa’s son, 17-year-old Jorge, who joined his mother at the rally. “She’s been more tense. Worried. Sometimes she cries by herself, alone. We’re scared. We don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

“What a shame,” said Maria Elena Durazo, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

“We called the White House, because the White House should get involved," said Durazo. "President Obama should get involved and say this is not what the bail out was about. It was about helping workers and not helping banks.”

Union leaders are calling directly on JP Morgan Chase to restore janitors’ jobs, because they say the janitorial contractor is just the middle man.

Seven janitors plan to concentrate the next few days on candlelight vigils, rallies and camping in front of the office tower where they worked. Their hunger strike is scheduled to wrap up on Friday afternoon.